Music notes: ‘Twilight’ actor’s band in town! Prepare to scream!

Featuring “Twilight” actor Jackson Rathbone, 100 Monkeys plays the White Rabbit on Saturday. Jackson’s the one in the white hat, not the guy in the banana suit.

Alarm bells didn’t go off in my head when music writer Jim Beal Jr. emailed me a press release and photo about the L.A. band 100 Monkeys playing the White Rabbit on Saturday.

They sure went off in the head of Calendar Editor and resident Twihard Stefanie Arias, who quickly recognized the indie band’s “Twilight” connection. The quintet includes guitarist Jackson Rathbone, who plays neophyte vampire Jasper Hale in the first two “Twilight” films and will play him again in the third movie, “Eclipse,” which comes out in June.

The “Twilight” connection was downplayed in the band’s press release, which instead concentrated on their 2009 album, “Grape.” It described it thusly:

The 14-track album is a mix of blues, rock and funk. Its varied style has a blend of the band members’ own personalities, not to mention the occasional harmonica, mandolin, fiddle, trumpet, or flute. Band members take turns playing different instruments and lead vocals, a style they call “the Monkey Switcheroo.”

It did contain a quote from Rathbone: “We wrote songs as we caravanned cross-country, we recorded songs standing in piles of pillows in the middle of a living room, and we worked with countless amazing people to make it all happen.”

Not being a Twihard myself, I didn’t connect the actor’s name to the movies. But Stefanie sure did. Making her first contribution to Night After Night, she wrote, “Don’t be surprised if the crowd is a bunch of teenage girls going ape crazy.”

And perhaps a few surprised metalheads wondering what the hell’s going on.

As for his acting, he didn’t make much of an impression on me in “Twilight.” I haven’t seen “New Moon” yet, but I have read half the book. If he pulled off that key scene at the birthday party in Chapter 1, I’d have new respect for him as a great comic actor. Bella gets a little paper cut opening her presents, and her vampire buddies are suddenly ready to have her as the entree. Especially Jasper, who’s new at this and not as in control as Edward.